Thursday, September 01, 2005
Still no notice for trial date of 5 suspects in Davao blasts
GOVERNMENT prosecutors are awaiting the notice to reset the scheduled hearing for the five suspects tagged in the twin bombings in Davao City in 2003 as the date set on August 29 was a holiday.
In letter addressed to Machut Shishak, political officer of the United States embassy in Manila, assistant city prosecutor Minerva Pepino-Estremos said the date for trial was set as early as July 25 yet but August 29 was declared as a holiday.
Handling the case with Estremos is prosecutor Victor D. Dumlao. The five detained suspects in the bombings at the Davao International Airport (DIA) and the Sasa wharf on March 4 and April 2, 2003, respectively that left 38 killed and 171 injured, are facing multiple murder and frustrated multiple murder charges before Regional Trial Court Branch 12.
Judge Isaac G. Robillo of the Regional Trial Court Branch 13 and pairing judge of RTC Branch 12 earlier ruled to cancel the scheduled trial last month after the witnesses for the prosecution failed to show up for the initial trial.
Counsels for the suspects are Lawyers Hamlet Pahm, Ortillano Tan, Leo Caubang and Onofre Francisco.
The five suspects--Esmael Mamalangkas, Esmael Akmad, Ting Idar, Tohame Bagundang, and Jimmy Balulao, who were arrested in Cotabato City in April 2003, denied the charges during their separate arraignments.
They all claimed that they had been tortured by government soldiers and forced to admit a crime they did not do. (RCB)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (September 1, 2005 issue)
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